Homeless To Be Housed In Tiny House Village In Austin (VIDEO / PICS)

Just when we think the only news that comes out of Texas makes us all wince and groan, we find a story like this from the true heart of Texas — Austin. The Community First! Village is a program of Mobile Loaves & Fishes. It sits on a 27-acre master-planned community and will provide affordable, sustainable housing for approximately 200 chronically homeless disabled people in Central Texas.

“It will be a gated community who’s [sic] access is limited to the residents and their registered invited guests,” said project founder Alan Graham. (KVUE)

The motivation of Mobile Loaves & Fishes — and Graham — is their faith.

We’re not called to be successful. We’re called to be faithful.

He continued:

We’ve been really active in pulling people up off the street and into housing – housing that they pay rent on. We just help them get in the housing.

Residents of Community First! will work, with some using street vending carts to make a living. Graham explained:

We also have a giant wood shop where people are very gifted and talented in building things. So we want to empower people into a purposeful cultivating lifestyle of working.

The community has been in planning for 10 years, with Mobile Loaves & Fishes serving the Central Texas homeless population for 14 years. Homes include tiny cottages, mobile homes, and even tepees. Most kitchens and bathrooms will be communal.

Some of the amazing features of this little village:

A 3-acre garden

A medical facility

A workshop

A bed and breakfast in the form of an air stream motel

Tiny individual gardens for each home

An interfaith chapel in a separate cottage

A vintage outdoor movie theater that will do public screenings

Tim League — the founder of Alamo Drafthouse— is providing the movie theater and is a staunch supporter of the project. He calls it “the very first ‘yes, in my backyard’ project!” (News 90.5/KUT.org)

Graham said that it’s not been easy to convince everyone to be on board with helping homeless people, but they like the idea of the bed and breakfast and the movie theater. Well, and the fact that the folks will be working and paying rent.

We haven’t converted everybody [to the idea of housing the homeless], but when people come out here they go, ‘Oh!’ They see a chapel; they see medical and vocational services on site, and they learn that residents will not live there for free; they’ll pay a monthly rent. (News 90.5/KUT.org)

If that’s not enough, perhaps some Texans will take comfort in how this will affect the thing that really matters most to many of them: money. Graham points out that if 200 chronically homeless people become more self-sufficient, the $6.5 million project could save taxpayers in Central Texas approximately $10 million per year. Downtown Austin businesses expect to see a boon as 20 percent of Austin’s homeless will be taken off the streets, thereby motivating business owners and government officials to jump on board.

Community First! is funded entirely with private money and has raised half the funding it needs. They are expecting to complete the project and begin moving people in by 2015. To donate, click here. You can follow their progress by liking the Mobile Loaves & Fishes Facebook page.

This is a brilliant idea. You may have nothing more than a sturdy roof and walls a few windows a stove, water, a bathroom and a bed. But you're safe, dry, and warm in your own bed. That's all you need. Doesn't matter if you're sick, mentally ill, or just plain umemployed - no questions asked. You have a home large enough for one person to try to get their life back together, but they're safe, warm, and have a bed to sleep in. Sounds darn good to me. Wish we had something like this here.

Grannie Cool Thank you for that comment. Here in SA they hide them in a place called Haven for Hope. But when you ask the homeless how come they won't go there they all say,"what Haven for Dope?" I get so tired of people turning a blind eye to people in need.

I don't understand how this is turning a blind eye?...if i was homeless, I would rather live in a house like this than a cardboard box and have a communal bathroom and kitchen instead of none. And they are not FORCING anyone to go here...so if they like other homeless accomodations they can stay where they are at. Drugs are everywhere including tent cities and underpasses...So what is YOUR idea?

Nina Butts. No one reads your "intentions", they read your words and your comment was a needless snarky slap in the face to people of faith. I am not a person of faith myself but appreciate that many who are volunteer and give in the practice of that faith. If you cannot see that you did exactly what you criticize Peggi Neill Karnes for doing, well, that is on you.

There are no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & a communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

You are STILL missing the BIG picture - this 'community' was created 10 miles OUTSIDE the city of Austin - in Webberville - NOT on ANY bus route (or other form of mass transit) so that the people have NO way to get to a job. They have to PAY to live here by working FOR THE CHURCH. (And a pretty steep price too considering the tiny home with no kitchen or bathroom or A/C.) It is a RIGHT WING effort to HIDE THE POOR from the City of Austin !! I have family in Austin, politically active. They have checked out the place. I'm not making any of this up. It is BAD NEWS. Austin has a huge gentrification movement under way. They are buying up all the old poor neighborhoods before family can take possession and letting developers turn living space for numerous families (all black or Latino) into one giant McMasion or hideous over-priced condominium. Families are moving out of Austin as fast as they can. Thank Rick Perry and his ilk for his fascist & racist ideals.

amazing idea. To combine the sincere creativity not to allow poor people to live in less than adequate housing. As a senior I have admired the concept of the tiny houses and thought I easily would love to downsize to one. Great thinking now all you contractors and builders get involved to afford all of us a decent place to live

as I read this article I felt the same way Angie. I would love to downsize, live in a community of like minded souls, and with the money saved on paying high rent for space I don't need, contribute a percentage of my monthly savings back to the fund that provided my house. just thinkin".

Virginia Archer thanks for ur response. I hate those elderly high rise at least this way one could enjoy outdoors on ground level. I like the way they appear and especially mixed in with small motor homes

Peggy Hooley Szymeczek - I'm afraid it is exactly what the 'powers that be' wanted, however, and THAT bothers me more than anything. Austin has become increasingly intolerant of anything that looks even a little like poverty or race. I have family in the city and they are NOT happy about what's been going on.

Hope Green - certainly NOT shipping them 10 miles out of the city & forcing them to work for the church & share kitchens & bathrooms. Austin needs to stop with the rampant gentrification. All the poor (Black & Latino) are being driven out of neighborhoods they have lived in for generations and the houses are bought by developers who build McMansions or ultra-rich condominium eyesores. Most families who have the means to leave are moving out of the city completely. My sister's family are slowly all moving out. Once Grandpa is gone there will be no reason for any of them to stay.

The Tea Party's stated agenda is to promote conservative values in the political arena. Why should the Tea Party adopt a diffent cause in a different arena. Most people who identify with the Tea Party are above the norm in charitable involvement and donations.

The Tea Party is a political organization, not a charity. If they fix one dime of my money to a charity on my behalf, it will be the last dime they receive from me. I'm perfectly capable of choosing and donating to my own charities. Individual freedom and responsibility is core to Tea Party beliefs. http://m.teaparty.org/about-us/

Loralea Prothro Seale Ok, so you still have not given me any factual evidence of your assertion that people who align with the Tea Party are actually more charitable than people who are Democrats, Green, Libertarian, Communist or whatever other party. When I search for data I find studies that are biased in two major ways.

First the one study considers money given to a church as a charitable contribution. I do not. Then my country club dues and my gym membership are also charitable. Hey both places have holiday can drives.

Secondly the other study, probably the one you are citing, uses whole state (red or blue in presidential races) and tax return data as a basis for coming up with the charitable contributions. This ignores individual givers political affiliations and the giving of people who don't vote. Money given to schools is a tax credit and not a write off so money given to schools is not counted.

Because there is a financial incentive to inflating charitable giving in order to get out of paying ones fair share of taxes, and because Republicans and Teabaggers are openly opposed to paying their share of taxes and prefer pushing that burden onto others, the data from tax returns in this case is not a credible source of data. While I just file my taxes and accept paying my fair share without trying to inflate the value of the bag of old clothes I dropped off at the Humane Society, a super Teabagger neighbor has made me put more than a few tooth marks in my tongue when she brags about all of the ways she gets out of paying taxes. Buying a car out of state, dropping Salvation Army donations off one at a time to have multiple receipts, selling furniture and other junk at her yard sale but taking a photo of it and claiming it was donated on her taxes etc. And also has no shame about gaming the system to enjoy many of the social safety net programs her politics vehemently oppose. So I have seen first hand how the incentive to inflate giving reported on taxes is abused by some people.

Not saying Republicans are not charitable and giving folk as individuals, but then again I wasn't the one claiming that one party had the monopoly on compassion and giving to begin with.

I think they did. There are no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & a communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Loralea Prothro Seale My goodness, what a charitable attitude you display. I was just wondering if it was open to all homeless people or if being a recipient of the assistance was conditional on religious adherence. As one commenter above noted, some of us prefer not to support organizations that require recipients to follow a religious agenda.

I'm sure they are required to follow the church. There are no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

This is not new, decades ago most states had programs where they built small one room houses and rented them to poor people, often called "county homes, or country farms" and no one had to sleep on the streets, didn't mean that it stopped there were the "hobos" but not like today where we see over 600,000 homeless Americans on any given day with out someplace to be. But you know there is no housing shortage, there are 24 vacant homes and apartments for every single homeless man, woman, or child. Just the greed of landlords gouging the price of rent and getting away with it. And you don't have to believe in God, to have empathy, and I've seen a lot more empathy from pagans and atheists than I've seen from so called Christians. And I don't apologize for that.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

It's actually 10 miles outside of the city (in Webberville), there are only communal bathrooms & kitchens, and no bus route to take them into the city where the JOBS are. It's basically a way to hide the homeless people from the upper class people in Austin.

Yeah I think this is a very valid point, no where did I see anything about alcohol, drug rehab or mental health treatment being available just vague medical services. I don't know if this will be a success or an abject failure. A gated community filled with chronically homeless, disabled people who will work as street vendors and pay rent to learn skills and responsibility. Some of that smacks me as unsustainable and even insulting. It's the assumption once more that they are lazy and unskilled and that is the source of their homelessness.

This will only work if he addresses the real reasons behind homelessness, largely mental illness and addiction, and doesn't just assume they are homeless because they are too idle to get a job. I'm sure some of them can aspire to more than selling hotdogs on the street in all weather once they have the services and support necessary to overcome their problems, will he provide more vocational training than carpentry if they are not skilled or inclined in that way or help them get educational qualifications?

I'm also sure some of them will not be mentally fit enough to sell hotdogs on the street, what happens to them? Are they not welcome or will the community work collectively to support those who are unable to work due to their mental illness? I know this sounds all rosy and charitable but the homeless are so for a reason. What resources are in place to help those who will truly struggle or are they just dumped from the experiment and what help is there to transition out of the program for those who are successful?

I'm sure his 'rent' is quite low, unlike most real rent. Anyone in the area who can comment what rent is like? Would you be able to afford safe housing working at the wage experienced by street vendors (minimum - maybe a bit more)? What other skills does being a street vendor teach you, time management, food service industry prep, money management come to mind but this is not skilled labor. So in this pathetically weak job market these people with the skills they will learn (unless they become master carpenters) are heading for minimum wage type job.

The same jobs that barely pay the rent and food for millions of other americans. Sure this is a step up from living on the street not knowing where your next meal will be but is that enough? Oh and in times of great stress your mental illness/addiction can flare up again and make you unable to work. Good luck.

This needs to catch on. We used to lock folks away for their own safety. Sometimes I wonder if what we do now, letting folks live on the streets, is more humane. I hope these small structures don't find problems with building codes. We need to make sure being poor not a crime.

Alana Roberts -- you need to ask yourself why you are soooo critical of a man acting on his faith to help the homeless. He is actually doing something. He is asking for volunteers. Will you be one of them instead of scolding his project to failure?

They have to go to The Church. AND ... There are no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Hello, a very large percentage of chronically homeless are children the majority of whom do not have a mental illness or addiction issues. What's the plan for them. I like what the State of Utah is doing for the homeless. They are being housed in homes and apartments that were foreclosed on and have not sold. No strings attached within municipal areas with a glut of housing that is sitting empty where these folks can be safe and have access to jobs, services of all kinds, including medical and kids can go to school. Utah is also saving a lot of taxpayer money by doing this and it is humane, what a concept. A win win for all.

Most of the tiny house designs I've seen use lofts for sleeping spaces-- given that they said disabled, how accessible are these going to be for the physically disabled? Even if not a loft, are they going to have any that are wheelchair accessible? I did not see any ramps in the pictures.

Loralea Prothro Seale If they cannot get into it, how is it better than a box? So they can sit in front and look at it and think "Wow, I would have a roof over my head if I could just get up those stairs. Well, and fit my chair in the room(s) and through the doors. A real bed too...If I could climb the ladder into the loft." Great use of limited funds there, great use.

Sherrie Scrivner Rueb-Roberts It is easier to say than to do, especially with tiny houses. While generally supportive of the idea, I'm torn on a couple of points. Most of which require further information. One of those points is how are they making them accessible after specifically mentioning disabled homeless as a target. There are many ways in which a person can be disabled, and it is easy for disability to lead to homelessness. Some forms of disability do require adaptive spaces--the limited number of accessible options in low income housing is often part of why many of them are homeless.

I think it is an idea that has the potential to be very good if well executed. The ghetto potential is still there (there tend to be problems with basically segregated housing, even well intentioned.) I'd like to hear about things like plans for a transition program to help people be able to move out who are ready and want to. I'd like to hear how they plan to handle disputes and mental illness issues and security. I'd like to know about issues like heating/cooling and other utilities. I'd like to know more about the religious aspect, although the non-denominational chapel is a good sign. I've seen that blow up in some organizations--nondenominational as long as it is christian sorts of issues. All things outside of the scope of this article.

So, do I support it? Not based on one article. Does it intrigue me enough to investigate further, see if the concerns I have are being addressed? Yes.

There are plenty of homeless, not in wheelchairs, who can and will make great use of these homes. As I've said on other threads, if you think they should be different feel free to build some yourself. Quit critiquing the great work this organization has done.

Loralea Prothro Seale Because pointing out something that, as was pointed out above, can be easily fixed is so detrimental to the building of a community with a goal of serving a wide range of people. How dare I contribute with my observations that at this stage something is missing that they could (at this stage fairly easily) correct and thus better serve the population that they are trying to reach. Obviously whatever they are doing is perfect and set in stone because they are are doing it--no way that anyone else could possibly point out something that has been overlooked.

Really, Loralea? Really?

Yes, there are other homeless that can use it. That has never been in dispute. But they specifically mentioned in the article they wish to "provide affordable, sustainable housing for approximately 200 chronically homeless disabled people." If they are focusing on the disabled, they need to consider accessibility. Not just ramps and doorways a wheelchair can fit through. If someone is missing an arm, climbing up into a loft is still problematic. Unless they are only going to be looking at people whose disabilities are mental, they need to consider how to adapt for physical disabilities.

They can build a wonderful tiny home community. But if the people they are hoping to shelter cannot use the buildings, what is the point?

I am guessing that they are focused on helping the disabled in part because they can pay the rent (if they qualify for SSDI or SSI) and because there is a "deserving poor" storyline there. Easier to sell "help the disabled, homeless through no fault of their own" to the neighborhood than it is "give this otherwise able-bodied person who completely screwed up a second chance."

Your privileged is showing, Loralea. Basically you are saying the disabled homeless should be grateful for what they are given, no matter how unusable or inappropriate to their situation and/or people with disabilities and those who advocate with people with disabilities should be fine that they are being evoked to sell people on a project ("consider the poor disabled people we'll be helping!") when it does nothing for them and can even hurt them when funds that could have gone to programs that they can actually access go to this instead. Good intentions and hard work don't magically make it better.

Yeah I agree, because there are so many different types of little homes being built. I am sure if they wish to help disabled homeless people they will make little homes that would be accessible to the disabled people. Some have lofts, some are small trailers some are teepees. They haven't limited themselves to tiny rooms that only non disabled people could use. I am sure the little places will take care of basic needs also.

Deborah Cicconi --Not if they can't use it at all it. Because if they can't, they still will be sleeping on the ground (only also paying rent for the house they can't use.) It is like giving non-Braille books to the blind and telling them to be grateful for the entertainment or giving peanut butter sandwiches to someone with severe ground-nut allergies and telling them to be grateful for the food. This isn't a question of would they WANT to use it, but are they making it so they CAN use it. There is a very important difference there.

Loralea Prothro Seale - A wooden box in a city where it is 100 degrees most of the year. I don't think keeping WARM will be their biggest concern ! This is a way to keep the homeless HIDDEN from the wealthy living in Austin. I have family in Austin. Politically active family. They have been out to check this out. It is basically a religious interment camp for the poor. It is 10 miles outside the city so that it is not on any public transportation route. The people in these wooden boxes are also forced to use communal bathrooms & kitchens and work for The Church to PAY for the cute little wooden boxes. It is a TRAVESTY !!!

I pay only $546 a month for a 2250 sq ft home. What the heck???!!! $200 a month for a tiny little shack! If you really wanted to help, then perhaps $50 a month....but not $200!! WOW!! They're absolutely stealing from the poor then justifying their piety by throwing in a communal toilet and shower house and making certain there's a chapel? How is a chapel going to help them pay their exorbitant rent? And I have a very important question. Since these were supposedly built to accommodate the disabled homeless, why are there steps on each porch instead of handicap access ramps??? Oh...wait...it's to make the people who set up this rat trap feel justified, right? Here...we'll stick you in a shack, charge you disproportionate rent, but you have to pray to OUR god. That's just slimy. How is it that no one else is seeing this??!!!?? Good grief! If I were homeless I'd take a pass at going there. It's actually cheaper to rent a camping space at the lake with water and electricity hookups and a shower house/bathroom and simply have your own tent. Tent = $99. Rent at the lake with hookups? $32 a month. Seriously! Oh...and you're not forced to endure a religious chapel there either.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

They are NOT forcing the homeless to go here are they?i would be against that.but if they are offering it to people to take IF it will benefit them them that would be good, I think.If they can go somewhere else cheaper then they should.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

I am afraid that I must see this as a fairy tale way of diminishing the poor and needy, both in their own images and self-esteem, and in the minds of a society who has basically discarded them. Now that same society makes itself feel better by candy-coating the situation with elfish cuteness. Disgusting and shameful!

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

You would - it's a very Right wing thing to do. Hide the poor. There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Betty Janzen - no, they don't WANT them in the city. This is basically an interment camp. It deliberately keeps them OUT of the city. They are forced to stay here, pay rent by working for the church there, and have communal bathroom & kitchen facilities. Do you understand that the best comparison of this village is to that of a POW camp ?!

Am in in favor of letting poor people (including the homeless) live where they call home - NOT transporting them to 'detention centers' miles from where they have always lived. Take care of things IN the city. This 'community' was created 10 miles OUTSIDE the city of Austin - in Webberville - NOT on ANY bus route (or other form of mass transit) so that the people have NO way to get to a job. They have to PAY to live here by working FOR THE CHURCH. (And a pretty steep price too considering the tiny home with no kitchen or bathroom or A/C.) It is a RIGHT WING effort to HIDE THE POOR from the City of Austin !! I have family in Austin, politically active. They have checked out the place. I'm not making any of this up. It is BAD NEWS. Austin has a huge gentrification movement under way. They are buying up all the old poor neighborhoods before family can take possession and letting developers turn living space for numerous families (all black or Latino) into one giant McMasion or hideous over-priced condominium. Families are moving out of Austin as fast as they can. Thank Rick Perry and his ilk for his fascist & racist ideals.

Betty Janzen YES these people are FORCED to stay here !! They are rounded up in the city of Austin, driven 10 miles OUT of the city to Webberville, and FORCED to forced for the church to pay for the 'right' to live in these horrible wooden boxes with no A/C or running water, no bathrooms, no kitchens. There are no better off than they were, they are WORSE because now they are no where near places to get help, medical attention, or jobs.

Kerry Kassel There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Nah, I'd rather share a bathroom and kitchen than do without one at all. Plus, I remember going to the communal baths in Japan... it was no big deal and made sense to the people of the villages as they couldn't pipe water into every home back then. Nope, will share and have a dry, warm sleep. :)

Kimiko Barling - You are STILL missing the BIG picture - this 'community' was created 10 miles OUTSIDE the city of Austin, NOT on ANY bus route (or other form of mass transit) so that the people have no way to get to a job. They have to PAY to live here by working FOR THE CHURCH. (And a pretty steep price too considering the tiny home with no kitchen or bathroom.) It is a RIGHT WING effort to HIDE THE POOR from the City of Austin !! I have family in Austin, politically active. They have checked out the place. I'm not making any of this up. It is BAD NEWS.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Who is maintaining the village before the residents move in? Everyone knows how much structures suffer when people don't live in them. I'm just wondering how it's all being preserved right now. Are the people building the little houses living in them for now or what? I hope there will be an update after the residents move in so we can follow the progress of the project.

I would assume (we all know what that does) still, I would think that volunteers from the church would come out and donate maintenance time. Eg: people already involved with their food donation project.

Loralea Prothro Seale Wow, you get worked up over nothing don't you. Have you had your hormones checked? Asking how they are keeping the place together over a long build is fair and I wasn't accusing anyone. I was asking. It has nothing to do with how a box or an overpass may compare either. A lot of love and work went into this village and if attrition is allowed to take hold the first buildings built will be full of dust, spiders and vermin and will need repairs before the first people move in. My neighbors moved out of their house 5 weeks ago and the place already looks like the apocalypse. I'd love to hear that build volunteers are living in the unitis and testing the livability of the place or that they are AirBNB renting them out to make extra money to fund more of the project until it is complete. But you know, go get yourpanties all wadded up if you need to. Must be uncomfortable but to each their own.

I'm just in shock that most of the comments here are critiques of how it should have been done differently, from people sitting in their warm homes who put out absolutely nothing to make this miracle for the homeless a reality.

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea.

Loralea Prothro Seale - You are living in a Right Wing dreamland. This is a way to keep the homeless HIDDEN from the wealthy living in Austin. I have family in Austin. Politically active family. They have been out to check this out. It is basically a religious interment camp for the poor. It is 10 miles outside the city so that it is not on any public transportation route. The people in these wooden boxes (in Austin where it is 100 degrees much of the year) are forced to use communal bathrooms & kitchens and work for The Church to PAY for the cute little wooden boxes. It is a TRAVESTY !!!

This is a way to keep the homeless HIDDEN from the wealthy living in Austin. I have family in Austin. Politically active family. They have been out to check this out. It is basically a religious interment camp for the poor. It is 10 miles outside the city so that it is not on any public transportation route. The people in these wooden boxes (in Austin where it is 100 degrees much of the year) are forced to use communal bathrooms & kitchens and work for The Church to PAY for the cute little wooden boxes. It is a TRAVESTY !!!

There are also no private bathrooms or private kitchens - just communal bathrooms & communal kitchen. And it's 10 miles outside the city, not on any bus route. It's just another way to hide the poor from the rich. It's a HORRIBLE idea

This is a way to keep the homeless HIDDEN from the wealthy living in Austin. I have family in Austin. Politically active family. They have been out to check this out. It is basically a religious interment camp for the poor. It is 10 miles outside the city so that it is not on any public transportation route. The people in these wooden boxes (in Austin where it is 100 degrees much of the year) are forced to use communal bathrooms & kitchens and work for The Church to PAY for the cute little wooden boxes. It is a TRAVESTY !!!